The EGL Spring 2014 graduates share their thoughts and experiences:
EGL Visit to the Permanent Mission of Ireland to the UN -
Grace Song Manager's Choice Heawon (Grace) Song
M.A. in Organizational Psychology
Having the opportunity to meet and engage in a conversation with Ambassador David Donoghue at the Permanent Mission of Ireland was such an eye-opening and enriching experience for our cohort of Emerging Global Leaders (EGL) Program. Ambassador Donoghue provided deep insight into how Ireland is making efforts in different sectors and levels of society to surface the issue of gender equality and women empowerment.
One of most salient topics discussed was women representation in the Irish government. In the lower house of the Irish Parliament, only 15% are women, and Ireland is currently ranked 89th in the world for female political participation. Women everywhere face the same barriers to participation, many of which stem from a strong patriarchal culture, social expectations of women, and embedded structural factors such as cultural preferences around selection processes. According to Ambassador Donoghue, women representation in politics is essential as women’s common sense and reason, coupled with empathy and other soft skills, are highly valuable in negotiations and decision-making processes. He used 5 C’s to explain the root problems that hold women back from achieving equality in political life and why they must be addressed to bring about real and lasting change.
It is evident that Ireland is one of the forerunner nations in strategically tackling issues related to gender equality. In 2007, Ireland launched the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016 with the overarching aim of “An Ireland where all women enjoy equality with men and can achieve their full potential, while enjoying a safe and fulfilling life”. The objectives and actions contained in the Strategy are grouped under three key themes which are:
1. Equalizing socio-economic opportunities for women;
2. Ensuring the well-being of women; and
3. Engaging women as equal and active citizens.
(To learn more about the National Women’s Strategy, visit the website: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/National_Womens_Strategy)
During and after the visit, I couldn’t help but think about the political systems and policies in my own country, Korea. The socially constructed norms and values which older generations have adhered to are being replaced by a new set of values sprouting from changed notion of family and need for work and life balance, largely due to increased female economic activity.
We, as emerging leaders in our respective sectors, must strive to be more attuned to the challenges and needs of women in our countries and collaborate with other leaders in creating innovative solutions that will empower and benefit women around the world. As Ambassador Donoghue emphasized over and over again: “There is ALWAYS room for improvement and changes”.
Grace Song Manager's Choice Heawon (Grace) Song
M.A. in Organizational Psychology
Having the opportunity to meet and engage in a conversation with Ambassador David Donoghue at the Permanent Mission of Ireland was such an eye-opening and enriching experience for our cohort of Emerging Global Leaders (EGL) Program. Ambassador Donoghue provided deep insight into how Ireland is making efforts in different sectors and levels of society to surface the issue of gender equality and women empowerment.
One of most salient topics discussed was women representation in the Irish government. In the lower house of the Irish Parliament, only 15% are women, and Ireland is currently ranked 89th in the world for female political participation. Women everywhere face the same barriers to participation, many of which stem from a strong patriarchal culture, social expectations of women, and embedded structural factors such as cultural preferences around selection processes. According to Ambassador Donoghue, women representation in politics is essential as women’s common sense and reason, coupled with empathy and other soft skills, are highly valuable in negotiations and decision-making processes. He used 5 C’s to explain the root problems that hold women back from achieving equality in political life and why they must be addressed to bring about real and lasting change.
- Culture
- Cash
- Confidence
- Candidate selection procedures
- Childcare
It is evident that Ireland is one of the forerunner nations in strategically tackling issues related to gender equality. In 2007, Ireland launched the National Women’s Strategy 2007-2016 with the overarching aim of “An Ireland where all women enjoy equality with men and can achieve their full potential, while enjoying a safe and fulfilling life”. The objectives and actions contained in the Strategy are grouped under three key themes which are:
1. Equalizing socio-economic opportunities for women;
2. Ensuring the well-being of women; and
3. Engaging women as equal and active citizens.
(To learn more about the National Women’s Strategy, visit the website: http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/National_Womens_Strategy)
During and after the visit, I couldn’t help but think about the political systems and policies in my own country, Korea. The socially constructed norms and values which older generations have adhered to are being replaced by a new set of values sprouting from changed notion of family and need for work and life balance, largely due to increased female economic activity.
We, as emerging leaders in our respective sectors, must strive to be more attuned to the challenges and needs of women in our countries and collaborate with other leaders in creating innovative solutions that will empower and benefit women around the world. As Ambassador Donoghue emphasized over and over again: “There is ALWAYS room for improvement and changes”.
Visit to the Permanent Ireland Mission: The Role of Women
Jessica A. Robinson
Best Selling Author & Coach | Security Consultant | Speaker
Emerging Global Leadership Impact 21 Fellows Visits the Permanent Ireland Mission:
The Role of Women
In visiting Ambassador Donoghue of the Permanent Mission to the UN, the fellows of the Emerging Global Leadership Program with Impact Leadership 21, were able to not only learn about the evolution of active participation of women in Ireland and the removing of structural barriers for women, we were also able to get a better understanding of the history of Ireland, and how its leaders, made such significant progress in the last 20 years.
The rise of the Celtic Tiger, the age of economic prosperity in the mid-1990s that was also experienced in Asia and the US, had a direct tie with the political healing in Northern Ireland through the Good Friday Agreement under the leadership of their first female president Mary Robinson. In 1997, when Mary Robinson left office, Mary McAleese succeeded her as the second female president. At that time, not only was the Agreement a celebration of the cessation of violence in Northern Ireland and Ireland, but it was a time for young people to go to college, specifically women, and build a life outside of the fear that had plagued the country for decades. Ireland soon started to see an influx of women taking higher level leadership roles in corporations and the public sector.
Over the past 15 years, the Ireland cabinet has moved at lightning speed to increase the representation of women in the House of Commons, by asking political parties to have 40% representation of female nominees or else they would not be eligible for financial support. There is only 15% participation of women presently in the lower house of the Ireland Parliament. Though Ambassador Donoghue is very proud of the country’s ranking in Economic World Forum’s The Global Gender Gap Report, at number 6 in the world, he admits there is a lot of work to do not only with women representation in the work place, but with reproductive rights, which is still a taboo topic since abortion still illegal in Ireland.
Globally, Ireland is sharing key learnings from the Good Friday Agreement regarding the importance of the active participation of women during difficult, intractable conflicts as highlighted in UN 1325. Through cross cultural learning initiatives, Mary Robinson is working with women in East Timor and Liberia to come up with their own ideas and solutions to move forward in their respective countries. In preparing for 2015 UN Development Goals, Ambassador Donoghue is part of a sustainable working group with Finland and Norway. Other discussion topics include violence against women and women, peace, security concerns that Donoghue stated, in part, starts with national ownership within governments to reform internally.
Overall, visiting Ambassador Donoghue of the Permanent Mission to the UN was an incredible experience and did give us ways to think more innovatively in how to create change in our own countries.
Jessica A. Robinson
Best Selling Author & Coach | Security Consultant | Speaker
Emerging Global Leadership Impact 21 Fellows Visits the Permanent Ireland Mission:
The Role of Women
In visiting Ambassador Donoghue of the Permanent Mission to the UN, the fellows of the Emerging Global Leadership Program with Impact Leadership 21, were able to not only learn about the evolution of active participation of women in Ireland and the removing of structural barriers for women, we were also able to get a better understanding of the history of Ireland, and how its leaders, made such significant progress in the last 20 years.
The rise of the Celtic Tiger, the age of economic prosperity in the mid-1990s that was also experienced in Asia and the US, had a direct tie with the political healing in Northern Ireland through the Good Friday Agreement under the leadership of their first female president Mary Robinson. In 1997, when Mary Robinson left office, Mary McAleese succeeded her as the second female president. At that time, not only was the Agreement a celebration of the cessation of violence in Northern Ireland and Ireland, but it was a time for young people to go to college, specifically women, and build a life outside of the fear that had plagued the country for decades. Ireland soon started to see an influx of women taking higher level leadership roles in corporations and the public sector.
Over the past 15 years, the Ireland cabinet has moved at lightning speed to increase the representation of women in the House of Commons, by asking political parties to have 40% representation of female nominees or else they would not be eligible for financial support. There is only 15% participation of women presently in the lower house of the Ireland Parliament. Though Ambassador Donoghue is very proud of the country’s ranking in Economic World Forum’s The Global Gender Gap Report, at number 6 in the world, he admits there is a lot of work to do not only with women representation in the work place, but with reproductive rights, which is still a taboo topic since abortion still illegal in Ireland.
Globally, Ireland is sharing key learnings from the Good Friday Agreement regarding the importance of the active participation of women during difficult, intractable conflicts as highlighted in UN 1325. Through cross cultural learning initiatives, Mary Robinson is working with women in East Timor and Liberia to come up with their own ideas and solutions to move forward in their respective countries. In preparing for 2015 UN Development Goals, Ambassador Donoghue is part of a sustainable working group with Finland and Norway. Other discussion topics include violence against women and women, peace, security concerns that Donoghue stated, in part, starts with national ownership within governments to reform internally.
Overall, visiting Ambassador Donoghue of the Permanent Mission to the UN was an incredible experience and did give us ways to think more innovatively in how to create change in our own countries.
One-on-One Mentoring Event at IBM
Laura Risimini
Grant Administrator at The Sister Fund
As a part of the IMPACT Leadership 21 Emerging Global Leaders Development Program, we had the unique opportunity to engage in one-on-one mentoring sessions with senior-level leaders from various industries at the IBM offices in New York. In these private sessions, we were able to openly share our personal and professional visions and goals, as well as some of the challenges and limitations we have faced. Our mentors in turn, shared their own stories – imparting wisdom along the way about how they came to realize their full potential, and how they dealt with similar challenges in their careers. They also offered honest advice and feedback to the questions we asked, and offered to stay in touch afterward. Some of these very practical tips included - to always carry a business card, to be attentive to the ways that you can reflect confidence with your voice and demeanor, and to use current events as a way to build common bridges with others. More in-depth topics discussed included issues of work life balance, and how to handle difficult situations in the work place. At the end of the sessions, I left feeling supported and empowered, motivated and more assured in my own self, and in what I could contribute to my community.
Laura Risimini
Grant Administrator at The Sister Fund
As a part of the IMPACT Leadership 21 Emerging Global Leaders Development Program, we had the unique opportunity to engage in one-on-one mentoring sessions with senior-level leaders from various industries at the IBM offices in New York. In these private sessions, we were able to openly share our personal and professional visions and goals, as well as some of the challenges and limitations we have faced. Our mentors in turn, shared their own stories – imparting wisdom along the way about how they came to realize their full potential, and how they dealt with similar challenges in their careers. They also offered honest advice and feedback to the questions we asked, and offered to stay in touch afterward. Some of these very practical tips included - to always carry a business card, to be attentive to the ways that you can reflect confidence with your voice and demeanor, and to use current events as a way to build common bridges with others. More in-depth topics discussed included issues of work life balance, and how to handle difficult situations in the work place. At the end of the sessions, I left feeling supported and empowered, motivated and more assured in my own self, and in what I could contribute to my community.
EGL Mentoring Session at IBM: A Lesson in Authenticity
Sabrina Lim
Student at Teachers College of Columbia University
“Be your authentic self”. This has to be the catchphrase of the 21st century. However, in a consumerist world, where the media shapes our ideals, choice and beliefs, authenticity is hard to come by. What does it mean to be truly authentic? I learnt and witnessed true authenticity when I attended the IBM mentoring session as an EGL member.
To say that the mentoring session was successful would be an understatement. It was much more. It was awe-inspiring (after all, I was in a room full of highly successful, high powered individuals), groundbreaking (it was the first EGL mentoring session ever) and revealing (so many great nuggets of wisdom were shared in a short amount of time). I had the wonderful opportunity to speak to leadership consultants, Mr. Tony Smith and Dr. John Fernandez, and future IBM leader, Ms. Wu Yashih. Speaking to Mr. Smith, you could sense the energy and passion coursing through him. He spoke so passionately and honestly about gaining breakthroughs and imagining new realities. In the twenty-minute conversation I had with him, he enabled me to envision a radical new future for myself, and beyond that, he empowered me to see how this vision could become a reality. He has crystal clear clarity on who he is and what he does. It was clear to me that Mr. Smith was a transformational leader in his own right and brought with him an aura of self-assuredness only years of experience and success could guarantee. Dr. Fernandez was no different. Dressed a little more casually than the rest in pants and a polo t-shirt, initially, it crossed my mind that perhaps he was underdressed for the event. However, after spending fifteen minutes with him, I understood that it truly did not matter what he wore and silently chided myself for the quick judgment, for nothing would diminish the great advice he dispensed. Dr. Fernandez understands what it means to fight against the odds and rise triumphant. He has fought as a minority, pushing against systemic issues, refusing to simply be a cog in a machine. The battles he has waged and won in his career are admirable and one could only hope for half the courage he has. Lastly, I spoke to Yashih. Personally, this was the most gratifying conversation. I knew that Yashih was highly successful, despite being young. However, I was deeply grateful for the personal insights she shared with me. I will always remember what she said, “You know how people always talk about the Golden Rule? Do unto others what you want done unto yourself? People have it all wrong. We should do unto others what/how others want done unto them. Everyone in life comes from a different place, holds different values and has different experiences. As you interact with people, you always have to take that into consideration. It is not about your experiences and your life and how you want to be treated. It is about the other person. All of the other person.” Simple, but incredibly powerful. She pushed me to question what my perception of reality is and how I see myself. She raised thought provoking questions about my personal values and beliefs. Yashih may be young but she is full of wisdom. The thoughts she shared came from a place of deep personal reflection and her authenticity shone through.
Many of us (myself included) who are getting a foothold into the corporate world after graduate school contend with questions such as: What are my beliefs? What is my vision for myself? Where do I want to be in five years time? It is easy, too easy, at times to lose track of our bigger goals in life and we lose ourselves. Having mentors, such as Mr. Tony Smith, Dr. John Fernandez and Ms. Wu Yashih, is a stark reminder that we can maintain our authenticity in the corporate world and beyond that, that it is vital that we cling on to our authenticity and live it proudly for that is what we need to leverage on to drive ourselves and our organizations forward.
Sabrina Lim
Student at Teachers College of Columbia University
“Be your authentic self”. This has to be the catchphrase of the 21st century. However, in a consumerist world, where the media shapes our ideals, choice and beliefs, authenticity is hard to come by. What does it mean to be truly authentic? I learnt and witnessed true authenticity when I attended the IBM mentoring session as an EGL member.
To say that the mentoring session was successful would be an understatement. It was much more. It was awe-inspiring (after all, I was in a room full of highly successful, high powered individuals), groundbreaking (it was the first EGL mentoring session ever) and revealing (so many great nuggets of wisdom were shared in a short amount of time). I had the wonderful opportunity to speak to leadership consultants, Mr. Tony Smith and Dr. John Fernandez, and future IBM leader, Ms. Wu Yashih. Speaking to Mr. Smith, you could sense the energy and passion coursing through him. He spoke so passionately and honestly about gaining breakthroughs and imagining new realities. In the twenty-minute conversation I had with him, he enabled me to envision a radical new future for myself, and beyond that, he empowered me to see how this vision could become a reality. He has crystal clear clarity on who he is and what he does. It was clear to me that Mr. Smith was a transformational leader in his own right and brought with him an aura of self-assuredness only years of experience and success could guarantee. Dr. Fernandez was no different. Dressed a little more casually than the rest in pants and a polo t-shirt, initially, it crossed my mind that perhaps he was underdressed for the event. However, after spending fifteen minutes with him, I understood that it truly did not matter what he wore and silently chided myself for the quick judgment, for nothing would diminish the great advice he dispensed. Dr. Fernandez understands what it means to fight against the odds and rise triumphant. He has fought as a minority, pushing against systemic issues, refusing to simply be a cog in a machine. The battles he has waged and won in his career are admirable and one could only hope for half the courage he has. Lastly, I spoke to Yashih. Personally, this was the most gratifying conversation. I knew that Yashih was highly successful, despite being young. However, I was deeply grateful for the personal insights she shared with me. I will always remember what she said, “You know how people always talk about the Golden Rule? Do unto others what you want done unto yourself? People have it all wrong. We should do unto others what/how others want done unto them. Everyone in life comes from a different place, holds different values and has different experiences. As you interact with people, you always have to take that into consideration. It is not about your experiences and your life and how you want to be treated. It is about the other person. All of the other person.” Simple, but incredibly powerful. She pushed me to question what my perception of reality is and how I see myself. She raised thought provoking questions about my personal values and beliefs. Yashih may be young but she is full of wisdom. The thoughts she shared came from a place of deep personal reflection and her authenticity shone through.
Many of us (myself included) who are getting a foothold into the corporate world after graduate school contend with questions such as: What are my beliefs? What is my vision for myself? Where do I want to be in five years time? It is easy, too easy, at times to lose track of our bigger goals in life and we lose ourselves. Having mentors, such as Mr. Tony Smith, Dr. John Fernandez and Ms. Wu Yashih, is a stark reminder that we can maintain our authenticity in the corporate world and beyond that, that it is vital that we cling on to our authenticity and live it proudly for that is what we need to leverage on to drive ourselves and our organizations forward.
